How much to spend for pet medical treatment?
The College of Veterinary Medicine at N.C. State University announced Wednesday it plans to offer bone marrow transplants for dogs.
The procedures will cost about $15,000, AP reports.
This initiative conforms to the vision leading State's College of Veterinary Medcine to build the Randall B. Terry Jr. Companion Animal Veterinary Medical Center, which will open next year. It's named for Randall Terry, the late High Point newspaper publisher/furniture showroom owner whose charitable foundation donated $20 million. Its total cost will be $72 million in state and private funds.
"The Terry Center will offer cutting-edge technologies for imaging, cardiac care, cancer treatments, internal medicine and surgery," the CVM says.
For pets.
Obviously, this allows significant advances in the care of creatures who are loved and loving members of many North Carolina families.
At the same time, it raises a nagging question: When so many people can't afford basic medical care, can spending so much for the advanced care of animals be justified?
To the extent people donate private funds for this cause, the issue is settled. When it comes to expenditures of public funds, a debate is appropriate.
Then there's the personal decision. Would you spend $15,000 for a medical procedure for your dog? When considering charitible giving, would you contribute to a fund that would help defray treatment costs for pet owners who couldn't afford bone marrow transplants for their dogs?
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